Milford Township

Milford Township

old survey made by James McBride and John W. Erwin, marked I on the map. It occupies the second terrace between Seven Mile Creek and Williams' Run. This terrace is about thirty feet higher than the first, and presents a perpendicular bluff. The entire wall, with the exception of the southwestern part, is in open fields, and may be traced by the color of the soil and the corre- spending exterior ditch. When this work was originally surveyed, the walls were four feet high, and the ditch of ])rop()rtionnte depth. That portion of the wall in the grove is very distinct, and in ])laces about three feet high. A blue ash stump, on the wall, contains two hundred and one rings of annual growth. Within the enclosure arc twelve and one-h;ilf acres. It appears that both streams have encroached upon the embankments. Since then both have subsided. At the northern part the stream still washes against the bank of the second terrace, while at the southeastern ])art it has subsided a distance of ninety feet. The first terrace presents a perpendicular l)ank of ten feet to the surface of the water. A little lower down the stream has made three other terraces between the first and its bed ; the last appears to have been made within the last five years. It is composed entirely of gravel and sand. The first river terrace is covered with a rich layer of alluvial soil. Near the center of the enclosure is a mouhd thirteen feet in altitude by one hundred feet in diameter at the base. It is covered with a thick growtli of underbrush. An excavation has been made in the top of the mound, out of which several stone axes and other implements have been taken. The road to Oxford runs along the base of the mound, and cuts away about four feet of it. A quantity of limestone regularly laid up occurred in the northeast corner of the work. From the general appearance and location of the work, it was probably intended for purposes of defense. North of the work a few hundred yards is the third river-terrace, rising about fifty feet above the second. While it has a commanding view of the enclosure, yet it possessed no advantages for an assaulting party. It is possible that the work was used for both sacred and military purposes, having belonged to a new settlement.

It is more than probable that there are more mounds in the township than have been particularly noticed. The general features of the land would not especially indicate many mounds. Those which have been observed are small.

On the farm of Walter J. Smith, section one, is a mound located in the woods with small trees growing upon it. The mound is seven feet in height by sixty feet in diameter. It occurs on as high ground as there is in the vicinity.

In the village of Somerville, section three, occurs a mound. It is about one hundred feet in diameter at the base. It has been cut down to within four feet of the level, a partially-graded street running over it. On giving it a hasty examination, I was in doubt as to its being an artificial construction. The exposed limestone appeared to be in the natural position. Gravel and sand enter largely into the structure. I learned that on striking the stone with a heavy substance a hollow sound

The general features, as well as the situation, would forbid the supposition that many mounds should be located in the township. The bluif lands of St. Clair separate it from the Miami River, while the streams that are in it are very small, with the exceptions of Four Mile, which runs through the northeastern corner, and Indian Creek, which cuts through the southwestern corner. Notwithstanding this want of large streams, the small ones have cut deep beds in many places. The banks, however, are generally sloping. High hills occur in the southeastern part, undoubtedly caused by .the Great Miami.

On the farm of Andrew Lewis, section thirty, is a mound six feet high, in an open field. It has all the ap- ])earance of having been ])lowed over for many years, it is erected on a hill with sloping sides, and overlooking the valley of Indian Creek.

On the farm of J. Schaffer, section tliirty-six, situated on a hill, is a mound which has been ])U)wed down until it is but little higher than the surrounding surface. Burned earth occurred near the base. About twenty-five

On the farm of J. Delaplane, section twenty-five, are two small mounds, situated a few rods apart (a rivulet separating tliem), in an open fickl. They have been plowed over for many years. One is about four and the other tliree feet in height. The ground is sloping, and surrounded by hills.

A- mound eight feet high occurs on the farm of J. W. Fye, section nine. One-half is in an open field, and the other in a woods. It is located on high ground, near a small stream that flows into Stony Run, a tributary of Four Mile. In the same field is a mound about three feet high by one hundred feet base.

St. Clair Township is bounded on the north by Wayne, on the east by Madison, on the south it is separated from Fairfield by the Great Miami, and on the west by Ross and Hanover. The township is very irregular in outline, made so by the Miami River, and by attaching a narrow strip to it on the south, which, topographically speaking, should belong to Ross.

With the exception of the land west of Four Mile, and west of the Miami, south of Four Mile, the township is level, and composed of the second river-terrace. The land on the west is high and rugged, the banks probably averaging one hundred feet in height.

During the high water of 1805 the Great Miami changed its bed. Prior to that time the river swept around to the east over the bed of what is now known as Old River, east and south of the island now owned by Hon. L. D. Campbell. Four Mile Creek emptied into the river a little south of what is now the mouth of Two Mile. During that year the Miami broke through the tail race of a mill, and emptied into Four Mile, in section twenty-one, and since then has occupied that bed. This partis known as New Kiver. A part of the Old Kiver bed, now filled up with sediment, produces a luxuriant groAvth of corn.

One enclosure is found, surveyed in 1836 by James McBride and John AV. Erwin. This work is situated on the second river-terrace, on the banks of Seven Mile, on sections four, five, eight and nine, marked K on the map. It is formed by two irregular lines of embankment, with an exterior ditch, and enclosing an area of twenty-five acres. The embankments are parallel throughout, and the outer wall, at that time (1836), was four feet high, and the inner, three feet. The ditch, out of which the material was taken for constructing the wall, was six feet deep and thirty-five feet wide. Botli walls and ditch had their greatest dimension at the southern portion of the work. The inner wall curves inwardly along the terrace bank for a considerable distance near its southern extremity. There is a gateway at d (Fig. 60), thirty feet wide. The letter b marks the natural bank eighteen feet high. The low, arable bottom lands between the bank and the creek are indicated by the letter a. The mill race is marked by the letter j/'.

A few rods from the northeastern gateway is an elliptical mound, eleven feet altitude; its conjugate and transverse diameters are respectively ninety-two and one hundred and eighteen feet.

At the present time the walls are quite low. Standing on the elliptical mound they can be easily traced with the eye just after the ground has been plowed. In a few years they will be scarcely visible. The mound has been plowed over, and at present is about eight feet high.

The map shows that all the mounds but four are situated west of Four Mile and the Miami, and, with three exceptions, all are on the hill-tops.

The largest mound in the township is that on the farm of A. Logedrost, section eighteen. It is perfectly formed, composed of clay, and sixteen feet altitude by eightyeight feet in diameter at the base. It is located in an open field, and from the summit may be seen the hills beyond the Miami, and the hills in the distance at the north ; the view beyond the valley to the southwest is cut off by a range of hills. A drift has been sent in from the east a distance of ten feet, the material having been taken to fill up a depression in the barnyard. Within this drift was found an American half-dollar of the year 1812. It is slightly worn and much tarnished. From the south a drift has been made a distance of eight feet. Two excavations are in the top, one three feet and the other five in depth. From the latter a portion of a human skeleton, and a grooved stone axe, weighing over four pounds, were taken. I was fortunate enough to secure both the axe and the coin. Less than a fourth of a mile southeast of this mound, situated on the farm of

Adam Hammerle, section nineteen, is another five feet high, evidently pk)wed over for many years. It is composed of clay, with limestone scattered through it. It is on the summit of a high hill, overlooking the city of Hamilton, the hills of SDutli and east Fairfield, and the hills to the northeast. The range of hills two miles to the southwest limits the view in that direction.

No better view of the valley of the Great Miami is obtained than from ^^Prospect Point,'^ on the northwestern corner of William CaldwelPs farm, section sixteen. The promontory juts out, forming a slight bend in Four Mile. The side of the hill is perpendicular, and about one hundred and fifty feet above the water of the creek. The hill has a considerable slope in all other directions. The scene looking north, east and south is enchanting. The variegated fields, hemmed in by the distant hills, the highly cultivated farms, and the meandering Miami, present a picture which might be reproduced on canvas, but one that pen cannot describe. On the very edge of the declivity of this hill is a beautiful mound composed of clay, fourteen feet high by seventy-five feet in diameter at the base. A fire on this hill would be seen for many miles around. It has been disturbed, but scarcely enough to perceptibly deface it. A little west of this, on the farm of J. Betz, is a small mound.

In section nine Four Mile makes an acute bend, and projecting into it is a headland, upon the top of Avhich is the farm of William Parker. In his orchard, on the very summit, are three mounds, the largest being the southern one. It is oblong and ten feet high ; its conjugate and transverse diameters are seventy-five and one hundred and twenty feet respectively. Near the top of this mound some human bones were exhumed, and in conjunction w^th them three co})})er hatchets. Three hundred and sixty feet north of this mound is another, ten feet high by ninety feet in diameter, composed of limestone and surface material. Between these two mounds, but not in a direct line, is a small mound about four feet high.

rounding country, but from this point the valley of Four Mile to the west, Seven Mile to the north, and a portion of the Miami Yallcy to the east, and the hills of Fairfield to the southeast could be obtained, if the trees were removed. A fire on any of the prominent mounds, especially on that of Madison, could be seen.

A long, narrow ridge of land, running nearly east and west, in section thirty-one, and belonging to Pollock Wilson, is the most prominent point close to the city of Hamilton. On this ridge are three small mounds. The one located in the rear of the dwelling is now about eighteen inches high, and used for a flower bed. The other two are in a grove, one forty feet and the other forty-eight feet in diameter. Both are three and a half feet high, and four feet apart. Upon one is a red oak stump two feet in diameter. On the adjoining hill to the south, belonging to John W. Wilson, is a mound of about the same size.

Section seven contains five mounds, three of them located on the farm of S. Crane. The two in the field are low, one of them containing burnt clay. Out of this some implements have been taken; also plaited hair in a charred condition. The remaining mound is four feet high, and located in the woods. The other two mounds, located on the farms of J. Garver and A. Shobert, are small. On the farm of A. Werner, section eighteen, is a low mound.

Within the corporation of the city of Hamilton, on the land of Henry Gray, near the tile factory, once stood a mound, composed of clay. A number of implements have been taken from it.

In digging the cellar for the farm house of T. L. Rhea, section twenty- nine, a skeleton was disinterred. Near by is a mound out of which other skeletons have been taken. In the northwestern quarter of same section occurs an interesting formation, on the same estate, situated between the two forks of Two Mile. It consists of a ridge about a quarter of a mile long, one hundred feet wide at the base, and ten feet high. It bends in and out and rises and falls, giving it the appearance of a serpent in motion. At the southern extremity, a few feet distant from the ridge, and on an exact line with it is a mound of the same height and width, thickly covered with the ailantus. Into this mound a shaft five feet in depth has been sunk, and at the bottom burnt limestone occurred. The ridge is covered principally with the sugar tree. The ridge is composed of clay, while on either side the land is flat and damp. We noticed on this damp ground four fungous plants, in a row close together, each being not less than eighteen inches in diameter, and almost perfectly round.

I am of the opinion that this ridge or tongue is a natural formation, and also the mound. The mound may have been used as a place of burial, or the burnt stone may have served as a hearth for some ancient hunter who had here sunk a pit in order to hide the blaze of the fire from the keen eye of an enemy.

On the farm belonging to the estate of L. Snider, section twenty-one, are two small mounds. In the northwest corner of same section, on the farm of W. A. Elliott, is a mound five feet high, situated on a sandy surface, and for several years has been plowed over. Near the north end of the railroad bridge, spanning the Miami, on the farm of G. Warwick, in an open field, is a mound about five feet high.

On the farm of J. Warwick, section eight, is a mound seven feet high. It is on high ground, and from it, if the land was cleared of timber, the mound on "Prospect Point'' could be seen. A trench has been dug into this mound, and from it some human bones and stone implements were taken.

skeletons have been dug up on the farm of Robert Hueston, section nine. In a gravel pit on this farm a mastodon's tooth, now in my possession, was found. A mammoth's tooth, now in the possession of G. B. McKnight, was found while excavating for a cellar in the city of Hamilton.*

Wayne Township is bounded on the north by Preble County, on the east by Madison Township, on the south by St. Clair, and on the west by Milford.

The highest point of land in the county is situated in this township, on the farm belonging to the heirs of W. W. Phares, section nine. Its elevation is six hundred and forty-two feet above the Ohio Piver at Cincinnati. Notwithstanding the fact that the land of this township is considerably elevated, yet none of the higher lands of the county are more fertile.

In this township we meet with two enclosures. One of these is situated on the farm of Isaac Snively, section thirty. It occurs on the second river-terrace between Seven Mile and Nine Mile, bordering on the bank of the latter. The work is composed of an embankment without any opening, and an interior ditch enclosing an area of about eight acres.

Fortunately this work was surveyed, in 1 840, by James McBride and John W. Erwin, and thus a plan of it has been preserved. An illustration is given in Fig. 61. It is marked H on. the map. At the present time it is utterly destroyed, with the exception that the ditch on the southwest may be traced from the turnpike to the railroad, the latter cutting away the southern extremity. Within the enclosure were two beautiful oblong mounds. Nearly the whole of the mound in the center was removed in constructing the Eaton turnpike. During the excavation a quantity of bones was discovered, but nothing definite was ascertained concerning them. The

Source changes here: from A History and Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Sketches of Its Representative Men and Pioneers, by Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, published 1882; 126 words in this source stream.

Milford Township

At the same session of the same commissioners, on a petition of the inhabitants of St. Clair Township, it was " ordered, that the following tract of land and count n , now part of Si. Clair Township, in the county aforesaid, to wit: Beginning at the southeast corner of the fifth township uf the second range west of the Miami ; thence north with the east boundary of the said second range to the north ltouudnry of the county; theuo" we t with the northern boundary hue to the northwest comer oi" the county; thence south with the western houndarv iiuc or the o - witty to the southwest corner of the fifth township in the first range; thence to the place of beginning, -

Source changes here: from A History and Biographical Cyclopædia of Butler County, Ohio : with Illustrations and Sketches of Its Representative Men and Pioneers, published 1882; 8,034 words in this source stream.

Milford Township

At the same session of the same commissioners, on a petition of the inhabitants of St. Clair.Township, it was 'ordered, that the following tract of land and country, now part of St. Clair Township, in the county aforesaid, to wit: Beginning at the southeast corner of the. fifth township of the second range west of the Miami; thence north with the east boundary of the said second range to the north boundary of the county; thence west with the northern boundary line to the northwest corner of the county; thence south with the western boundary line of the county to the southwest corner of the fifth township in the first range; thence to the place of beginning, - years he was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church. William Simpson, Moses Dougherty, William MeMechan all taught in the old log-house. This building had a fire-place in the middle of it, while a brick

- chimney carried out the smoke through the rafters. The second house, a frame, was erected somewhere in 1838. Joel Harris was a teacher in it. The third and present building was erected in 1876, a handsome twostory brick.

Collinsville's first physicians were Dr. Robinson, of Preble County, who remained with the people for about three years and then removed to Iowa; Dr. Kline came next, who stayed for two years, followed by Dr. Smiley, an Irishman, from Hamilton, here not to exceed three years. He married a daughter of Samuel Davis, and now resides in Pickaway, Ohio, where he still practices medicine. Dr. EK. C. Wooley was the most prominent of all the early physicians. He came from Symmes's Corner, and was a wagon-maker by trade. He is now in Paris, Illinois. Dr. Silver, of Clermont County, came here some six or seven years ago.

James Young's saw-mill was built in 1811. The gristmill was erected three years afterward, and though often repaired, the old frame is yet in the present structure. The first saw-mill was destroyed by fire. This mill has always remained in the family, but since 1860 has been abandoned. In 1836 Mr. Young had a large log distillery close by, where he fattened many hogs. The building is now gone. As early as 1813 Oliver Smith had a saw-mill on Seven-Mile, two miles below Collinsville. It was run by an undershot wheel. He also erected a gristmill at the same place in 1808, but which in 1820 was destroyed by fire. About 1828 David Young built a saw-mill, carding-machine, and oil-mill on Seven-Mile on the east side, in the north-east corner of Section 25. _ The former of these establishments stood below the latter. All were sold after the death of Mr. Young, in 1848, to Joseph Hursh, who continued to do sawing until about 1853. Samuel and David Young built an undershot saw-mill one mile below Somerville, about forty years ago. The latter also had a fulling-mill and cardingmachine at the same point; all have disappeared.

The Collinsville Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1843. Among the early members were David Simpson and James Gray, the latter of whom was one of the early class-leaders. At the time of organization this Church was on the Germantown, but is now on the Camden Circuit. The house was begun in the Spring of 1844 and completed in the Fall of the same year. The Rey. William H. Sutherland was the first minister. Jeremiah B. Ellsworth and John W. Steel were preachers in charge in 1844, Prior to 1844 the Church worshiped in the frame school-house which stood half a mile south of Collinsville, on the Hueston road. The log schoolhouse stood ten rods west of the present Presbyterian Church. About ten years ago the Methodist Church was

The Seven-Mile Presbyterian Church at Collinsville was erected or organized in 1810. It was a frame building and stood eight rods west of the present house. Some of the early members were Samuel Davis, Robert Irwin, Sen., Matthew Richardson, Ralph Brown, Robert Swann, Oliver Smith, father of Samuel Smith (who now lives in Seven-Mile, eighty years of age), John Armstrong, and Samuel Young. The land on which the house stood was given for this purpose - two acres, including the graveyard - by Matthew Richardson. The house was about thirty by forty feet, and was furnished with slab seats, with legs for supports, from James Young's' saw-mill. In the course of time better seats were put in, and the pews were sold, but this practice was soon discontinued, because of the dissatisfaction which it caused. For the choir-leader the class had Daniel Corson, who stood close to the pulpit and '"'lined" the hymns, and Matthew J. Richardson, who pitched the tunes. The Rev. Francis Monfort was one of the first ministers.

Conrad Darr and Robert and William Ogle, all from Pennsylvania, entered Section 28, on which Darrtown stands, in 1802. After making the entry, they returned home, and in 1803 brought their families with them, and divided the section. Darr took the south half; William Ogle, the north-west quarter; and Robert Ogle, the north-east quarter. The section cost $1.25 per acre. In 1814, April 4, the former of these gentlemen laid out Darrtown, and called it after himself.

Abram Darr was the first resident of the village. He kept a store on the east side of the street, near the center of the town, in a frame house. This building burned down in 1820. John Deen built the second house, about 1817, which. is now used for a grocery by William Shears. In 1825 Willis Davis was in the house as a store-keeper, also as a saddler. In 1820 Henry Watts built a log-house in Darrtown, opposite the Davis property. Herron & Fenton were in this log building in 1827 as merchant tailors. The venerable building has long since disappeared. Mr. Persails, a hatter, from Hamilton, was here many years ago. John Cook, a blacksmith, from Pennsylvania, came here in 1825, with a large family; remained fifteen years, and died in this county. Stephen Cook, his son, followed, in the same business, for five or six years. David and

John Knee were also early blacksmiths. Abram Darr built a frame house, where Zimmerman now keeps, in 1817, and began the tavern-keeping business. He continued for ten or twelve years. In 1832, he opened a still-house, two hundred yards east of where Hiram Darr now lives. His corn was ground at the old carding-mill on the corner south of the Lutheran Church. This distillery continued for a number of years. Mr. Darr removed to Iowa, in 1844, and in 1852, while in Cincinnati, died very suddenly.

Aaron Chamberlain, a native of New York, rented a store-room in 1826, and began to accommodate the public. His store stood on the east side of the street in the middle of the village. He afterward opened a tavern in the store building, continuing for six years. He also worked at the wagon-making business for some time, and died in Pike County, Illinois, some time after 1840. Henry Branner was a blacksmith in Darrtown from 1817 to 1827, in a log shop opposite Chamberlain's tavern. Patterson and Martin had a store, in 1828, where Zimmerman's saloon is. Stephen Kendall came to Darrtown in 1825, built a tavern in the lower end of town, and continued until 1844. He was by trade a shoemaker, carpenter, and wagonmaker. William Kirkpatrick kept a tavern in Darrtown in 1845 in the house now occupied by his son Samuel as a tavern and saloon. Henry Krigger was another blacksmith from 1826 to 1832, south of the widow Carnahan's house on the east side of Main Street.

Mitchell Marshall had a large three story still-house, from 1845 to 1852, one fourth of a mile east of the center of the village. The capacity of this establishment was fifteen barrels per day. Many hogs were fattened at this distillery, and many cooper-shops were in active operation near at hand. Sylvanus Ochs built the store where Peter Winson now keeps, in 1840. His brother Josiah was a tailor in the same house for six or seven years. Stephen Irwin was also a country merchant in the same building about 1855. Mr. Winson began as a weaver in Darrtown about 1840.

Dr. Wyman, from New York, introduced the common domestic willow at Darrtown about 1845, five years after his arrival. The growing of willows in this vicinity is a leading industry with a number of the people. Dr. Yeaman, from Hamilton, came to Darrtown in 1827, remaining two or three years, and then removed to Crawfordsville, Indiana. Dr. Wilson, from New England, was here in 1833, and remained five years, removing to Rossville, Indiana. Dr. Cruikshank, from near Cheviot, Ohio, came here about 1832, remained seven or eight years, and sold out to Dr. Mack, who continued to practice here until his death a few years ago.

In the Spring of 1806 the first school was made up in this part of the township and taught by George Howard. The house stood a quarter of a mile north-west of large fire-place in one end, logs cut out for windows, roof covered with clapboards, which were held down by weight-poles. This house lasted and was used for twentyfive years. Among the teachers were John Blackburn, Enoch Morris, and Robert McManus, an Irishman, who was a fine scholar and a gentleman. The Irwin boys, the Kegards, Stouts, Hayneses, Prices, and Darrs were among the scholars.

The second school-house was a frame, which stood on the public square, erected in 1830, or thereabouts. Abram Darr and Philip Brown were among the first teachers. This building was used for about eight years. For the third school-house the Darrtown people had a frame building which stood near Darr's distillery. The house is now used for a dwelling, near the center of the town. William Hewett and David P. Nelson were two of the first teachers.

The fourth school building, a frame, was erected about 1848, and occupied a site two hundred yards west of the center of the village. This building was used until the present brick was put up, with an Odd Fellows' hall above, but which has been sold to the school directors for school purposes. Richard Chambers and Gardner Darr were among the first teachers. Mr. Jones, of St. Charles, is the present teacher. an average of seventy scholars.

John Mills built a carding-mill, in 1822, in Darrtown, and continued for five years. He sold out to Abram Darr, who used the old machinery for grinding his corn for the still-house. The power was supplied by a large tread-wheel, turned by oxen. In 1858 and 1859 a sawmill and a small grinding department was in operation in the village, owned by Benjamin Hawk and Joseph Keck. The buildings stood where the Lutheran Church now is. The establishment lasted but for eight or nine months.

In early history the settlers went to James Broadberry's saw and grist-mill, one mile and a half below town, erected in 1818, and continued for twenty-five years. Broadberry also had a log still-house, in 1817, which was replaced by a stone building. Wallace and Bryant

County, in 1816, and erected a saw-mill, a grist-mill, and a fulling-milf, all run by undershot wheels, on Four- Mile, now known as Lane's mill. The latter member of the firm was the fuller. Wallace did sawing for eight or ten years; also carried on the grinding department. H4 sold out to James Smiley. The property now belongs to his son-in-law, W. L. Lane, of Oxford. The present mill is a three story stone building, and was erected about 1850 by William Elliott, who was accidentally killed.

Griffith's mill stood on Four-Mile Creek, where the bottom road from Oxford crosses the stream, in 1817. There was a sawing and grinding department, both of which continued to run for twenty-five years. Half way between Lane's mill and Darrtown, Thomas Cooch built, in 1818, an overshot saw-mill. He had also previously ereeted an overshot grist-mill, thirty-five feet wheel. Thomas Cooch, Jr., with his father, also had a large distillery. All three of these establishments continued up to 1835, when the mills stopped. The stillhouse was carried on for five years longer. Pearson Stout had a still-house in 1840, on the farm now occupied by Ebenezer Brown, one mile north of Darrtown.

The Darrtown town hall was built in 1826 or 1827, to be used by all religious congregations as a place of worship. Conrad Darr gave the land on which the house stands. Among the leaders in this enterprise were Joseph Haynes, a blacksmith, who lived one mile east of town, in 1814, and perhaps was the first within this part of the township; Jacob Ogle, a man of many excellent parts, and James Walden, who lived on the farm now owned by Huston Kiger, the latter of whom has a large steam saw-mill. At that time the Baptists were the most prominent. This Church was organized in 1806 at Thomas Cooch's. The first preaching was under a shade in the Summer, and at Cooch's house in the Winter. The first preachers that might be called regular were Stephen Gard and William Tyner. In 1816 the society built a frame meeting-house in the old or present cemetery. This society flourished for a while, and was then broken up. Among the members were Israel DeWitt, Thomas Cooch, James Walden, and Mr. Blackburn. When the town hall was built this society sold their church to Abram Lawe, who removed it to Darrtown, and it is now used for a dwelling.

The cemetery was laid out in 1806 by Thomas Cooch and Mr. Markle. The former gave one and the latter half an acre of land. The first interment was that of _ Harriet, daughter of Thomas and Hannah Cooch, September 6, 1806. About the same time the Baptist Church was organized the Methodists began to have preaching in the neighborhood, and some time thereafter built a log church on the Beeler section, at the foot of the western slope of ''Chaw Raw" hill. This Church has since become very numerous and respectable, and now worships in a handsome frame building in the village. There are a number of graves near the site of the old church, but the house has long since disappeared.

The New School Presbyterians organized a Church in Darrtown about 1848. The first preachers came from Oxford. In its most prosperous days, this organization numbered thirty-five members, of whom Stephen Kendall, Hiram Darr and wife, Susanna and Sarah Cook were the most prominent. The Rev. B. W. Chidlaw organized the first Sabbath-school in Darrtown, about 1840. Joseph Curtis, of Hamilton, was the first superintendent, followed by Gardner Darr, who was. also the chief officer of a similar organization, at the same time, at MeGonigle's.

Jericho, four miles north on the Hamilton and Richmond pike. The original place of worship has since been destroyed by fire. This resulted in the erection of the church in Darrtown. George Kramer and wife Barbara, old Mr. Knapp and wife, Daniel Shollenberger and wife were among the first and leading persons who gave the Church its present healthy constitution. There are now over sixty members in good standing. A Union Sundayschool is carried on, with alternate meetings at the Methodist and the Lutheran Church.

Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 47, was chartered June 10, 1871. The charter members were W. H. Harris, A. J. Morton, W. L. Lane, Joseph and David Keck, R. G. and William Kendall, and George Morton. This society is a branch of the Somerville Lodge. There are now thirty-two members. The hall where the society meets was built for a select school, and was owned in shares, which were bought at a small figure from the stockholders. A. J. Norton was the first N. G.; W. H. Harris, the first vice-grand.

Old Mr. Cooley settled in the lower end of Darrtown in 1815. He was from Kentucky ; his family consisted of but himself and wife. The same year he built the stone house now occupied by Mr. Wagonfeed. Conrad Darr, in 1815, began a tanyard, carried on for seventeen years, in the upper end of the village. He was followed by his son Hiram, who continued in the business of his father for nine years, and also carried on boot and shoe making, on a small scale, for fifty years.

Enos Campbell, a soldier of the Revolution from Pennsylvania, came to Darrtown about 1810, and _remained for ten years. David Rattery, a Scotchman, came to the village in 1825, and left in 1835. Samuel Finch, from Massachusetts, was a settler in Darrtown before 1818; he remained four years.

At an early day two flat-boats were built at Broadberry's mill on Four-Mile, by Jacob Ogle and the proprietor of the milling establishment. When the creek rose, on account of a freshet, the boats were floated to Hamilton empty, and loaded there for New Orleans.

James Anderson came from Pennsylvania to Darrtown in 1817; built the house now occupied by John Graw, and close by opened a still-house, in 1820. He remained for ten or twelve years, and died afterward in Oxford Township.:

Somerville was laid out by Jacob F. Rowe, October 7, 1831. John and Marsh Williams, from New England, were the first village store-keepers, in a log house in the southern part of the town. John removed to the West, where he died. Marsh, after several years in the village, opened another store half a mile west, where his son Benjamin now lives. The Williamses came to this township in 18038, the saw-mill, and run it for some time. Ford Huff was a store-keeper for ten or twelve years. He also engaged in cutting pork for two seasons. Benjamin Myers, now of Camden, Ohio, was a Somerville store-keeper in 1840, under the old Odd Fellows' hall. He sold out to David Davis, who cut pork and shipped it to Cincinnati on the canal from Hamilton. Davis is now in Louisville, Kentucky. Edward Ogle was also a pork merchant, but failed, removing to Ilinois. One of the old pork-houses stood on the west side of the old cemetery, and was forty by fifty feet, one-story and cellar. Ogle and Fox did their packing in a hewed-log house, built in 1887 or 1838 by Samuel Ellsworth for a pottery. It stood opposite the Methodist Church. At the time the pottery was built Ellsworth was keeping tavern in Somerville.

William Morey, father of Lee and Ellwood Morey, was a hatter in the village in 1827, one door above where John Young's drug-store is. He was followed by others, the last of whom was James Craig. C. H. Newton began as an apprentice in April, 1832, and served four and a half years. He is now the only man living in the corporation who was here in 1882.

The Somerville mill originally stood above the depot, and was an old establishment in 1832 - a frame building. It was run by the Joneses, who were Quakers. A sawmill stood a short distance above, which was torn down about ten years ago. Jones sold to Jacob I. Rowe in 1839, removing to Michigan. John Irwin became the next owner, from Pennsylvania. Since this time there have been a number of owners, among whom were Benjamin Fox, William Fox, and James Young. 'The present owner is John Muff, who bought the property of the John Antrim estate in 1879.

Solomon White was the first tavern-keeper in Somerville; he was in a frame house opposite the Odd Fellows' 'hall in 1827. By trade White was a carpenter; he also carried on a blacksmith shop in the village in 1832.

Jacob Andrews had a tavern in the village in an early day, on the south-east corner of the depot and Main Street. He was followed by David Miller. L. J. Saucer followed Ellsworth, and David Holmes succeeded Saucer.

The Somerville Presbyterian Church is a branch of the Seven-Mile Presbyterian Church at Collinsville, which was organized in 1810. The first pastor was the Rey. M. G. Wallace, who served the Church from 1810 to 1820. The Rey. James Hughes then supplied the Church for one year. He was followed by Francis Monfort for ten years. The congregation was then supplied for a short time by the Rev. William B. Smith, and in the Fall of 1834 the Rey. Thomas Edgar Hughes became stated supply. The church was erected during the same year. Here the people assembled regularly, still under the control of the Seven-Mile Church. In 1843 the Oxford Presbytery appointed elders for the Church. After the organization the Rey. Mr. Hughes continued to supply the two Churches until his death in January, 1864. Over two hundred persons united with the Church during his ministry. In 1864 Rey. James _ W. McClusky entered upon the pastorate, which continued for eighteen years. In the year 1874 the old house was declared unsafe, and in the month of December of the same year a new house, which cost about $5,000, was dedicated free of debt. In 1875 seventy-six members were added to the Church register. The ruling elders have been Daniel Carson, Caleb Baker, Jonathan Crowley, Benjamin Bourne, John Beaty, Howard Young, A. P. Young, Jacob Earhart, James R. H. Bernard, William Crume, Mahlon D. Hinsey, and G. F. Cook. Some of these have rested from their labors and entered upon their reward.

For the first school-house Somerville had a building which stood on the Jacksonburg road, on the bank of Pott's Run, in the field now owned by John Young, five rods from the road. William Mack was one of the early teachers. The second school building stood in town; so also does the third.

In August, 1861, Somerville was overflowed by Seven- Mile, and considerable damage done to property. Stock was scattered and fences were displaced beyond recognizance.

Dr. Williams, here in' 1825, was the first resident physician in Somerville. He remained about eight years. Dr. Waugh, from Maryland, came here in 1828, and remained three years. He married while here. Dr. Adams, a New York unmarried man, was with the people for four or five years. He went from Somerville, married, to Eastern Ohio. Dr. Mendenhall succeeded Dr. Adams, who was also his pupil. He was a resident physician at two different periods.

Dr. Easton came here in 1840 from near Cincinnati, and in 1847 went to Evansville, Indiana, where he died. The other physicians have been Dr. Creighton, from Dayton, Ohio, here about five years; Dr. Simpson, Dr. Miller, Dr. Brown, Dr. Cook, and Dr. Carey. Dr. Alexander, from near Camden, practiced here more than a quarter of a century ago, and was the first resident botanical physician in Somerville. Dr. Ferguson was another of the physicians here for three or four years. Dr. Hair was also a citizen at the same time. Dr. Brown was the first physician in this section of country, and was here three-quarters of a century ago. _ His home was in Preble County, two and a half miles north-west of Somerville.

The Free-will Baptist Church was organized in 1835 or 1836. This building was erected with the understanding that all religious denominations should use it if desired. Thomas Murray, Cephas Blossom, and Mr. Foreman were the trustees on the part of the Church. John Clark, Dr. Eastman, and Harrison Perham were the trustees on the side of the people. The house was a frame, and stood on the east side of Mound Street, a few feet from the first alley. Jacob Rowe and wife deeded the land - about one-eighth of an acre - for church purposes. Alexander Keller now occupies the house as a dwelling, two and a half miles west of the town. The Rey. Benjamin Skinner was the organizer of the Church, and afterwards served the people for ten or twelve years.

Odd Fellows' Lodge, No. 54, Invincible, was organized in December, 1845. The charter members were John Woodside, Henry Dove, Daniel Boyer, J. Westerman, Jr., William Newton, Miles Minges, and Abram Clark. The first meetings were held in the third story -of a house built by Mr. Nye, of Cincinnati, who came here and built a store in 1838. The third story was added by Ford Huff, to whom he sold out. membership numbers about forty-five. Huff's room was used for three or four years. A room was then leased of Benjamin Myers and occupied for twenty years. The present hall was built in 1850, costing $2,500, and occupies the site of the first place of meeting.

In 1832 Jacob F. Rowe and Benjamin Bourne donated about one acre of land to the Presbyterian Church for burial purposes. The first person buried in it was John, son of Daniel and Anda Perry, who died April 26, 1852; aged nine years, ten months and fourteen days. The leading burying-ground for the early settlers was in Preble County, just over the line.

In December, 1875, the Collinsville cemetery was enlarged at a cost of $2,125, for seven acres, after a great deal of vexatious bargaining. The 'same month and year the Somerville ground, four and four-fifths acres, was enlarged at a cost of $970. And in August, 1876, the Darrtown ground was likewise enlarged by the township buying three acres at a cost of $1,000.

In 1850, three miles west of Somerville, John Wright, a millwright, who worked for Ezra Bell, erected the mill that is seen standing idle in the southern part of the town, for want of capital and work. The original structure cost $2,200. Six years thereafter the establishment was removed to the village. A small grinding establishment was added. Every thing is now in a dilapidated condition. As far back as 1828 Mr. Rouse, of New Jersey, began to tan on Marcy's Run of Seven-Mile. He continued for ten years. John Airy opened a tanyard in Somerville, opposite the present post-office, in 1832 or 1833, which has continued to run with many changes in proprietorship, for forty years. Robert Young had a still-house one mile south on a branch of Seven- Mile, at an early day.

Cornelius Hinsey came with his brother William and Archibald Armstrong, from Delaware, in 1802, and entered Section 9, which was afterward divided among themselves. As early as 1810 the former of these men opened a still-house, which he carried on for twenty years. The distillery was on Hinsey's branch of Seven- Mile. David Unsicker had a distillery on Section 9 whisky-making establishment in 1825, on the farm now The water was pumped by a big dog, and the corn ground by horse-power. Moses Campbell also had a still-house on Section 16, but it was not very important; it was known as a '' family concern." Samuel Young had another on Section 10 (which he partly entered) at an early day. Christopher Augspurger had a similar one in 1824, about three rods from his house. He was followed by his son-in-law, Joseph Kinsinger, who carried on the business extensively. His corn was ground by cattle.

Somerville was incorporated in 1832. Thomas Martin was the first mayor, and Benjamin Hubbard, now a lawyer of Eaton, seventy-two years old, the first clerk and recorder. Among the other mayors were Ebenezer Blossom, R. L. Gard, Henry Dove, J. P. Randall, who served four terms, Daniel Peters, W. R. Woodside, Cornelius Conaroe, and M. W. DeCamp, the present officer, who has held the office for ten or twelve years. Council meets in the town hall, erected in 1863 or 1864, and cost, including the lot, $850. Erastus and Joseph Marcy were the contractors.

Biographical Notes

Martin Bailor was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1826, and came to this county with his parents, George and Sophronia Bailor, in May, 1831. He was married November 16, 1880, at Hamilton, to Elizabeth Simmons, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Simmons. She was born in Butler County, February 1, 1832. Her parents were among the early settlers of Milford Township. Mr. Bailor is a retired farmer, owning three farms.

Hezekiah Bradbury was born in Butler County, April 22, 1809. His parents came to this county in 18065. The grandfather was from England, settling in New England, in a wild portion. In one of the forays of the Indians all his buildings were burnt. Three of the family were in the War of 1812 - James Bradbury, Simon Bradbury, and an uncle, and Dr. Patterson Thayer, his wife's father, died in the army. Hezekiah Bradbury was married on the 22d of April, 1837, to Maria Thayer, daughter of Patterson Thayer, M. D., and Anna Beatty More, who came to this county in 1816. Mrs. Bradbury was born September 13, 1816, in Pennsylvania. They have had five children. John W. Bradbury was born in 1838; Nancy Eleanor Bradbury, July 18, 1841; James K. Bradbury, June 4, 1844; Elizabeth Bradbury, June 4, 1844, a twin with the preceding, and Anna M. Bradbury, April 16, 1851. Elizabeth died February 18, 1863. Each of the children have been given six thousand dollars apiece. Mr. Bradbury moved where he now lives in 1846.

Zebedee Brown was born in Virginia, January 23, 1808, being brought hither in 1811 by his parents, Benjamin and Phebe Brown. Mr. Benjamin Brown settled close to the Fair-Play Mills, then taking a lease on some land at Black Bottom. He stayed there seven years, and then moved on what is called the Springdale Pike, on the Enoch Chambers farm. On this he lived two years, then buying seventy acres of ground, now owned by Mr. Springer. He died of the cholera in 1838, his wife surviving, and living to the great age of eighty-eight. Zebedee Brown was married to Margaret Vinnedge, daughter of David and Elizabeth Vinnedge, August 11, 1833. His wife was born in this county April 5, 1815. They had nine children. David V. Brown was born June 23, 1834; Mary Teigue, August 16, 1836; Catherine Scott, May 31, 1838; Benjamin Brown, June 22, 1840; Wilkinson Brown, September 9, 1842; William Brown, March 24, 1844; Jeremiah Brown, August 24, 1847; Sarah E. Bradbury, November 24, 1849, and James R. Brown, September 24, 1856. Upon Mrs. Brown's death he married Rebecca Spivey, daughter of James C. Spivey and Catherine Spivey, who was born in this county in 1827. She has had two children, Charles and Russell. The former was born January 29, 1868, and the latter, May 11, 1870. was in the late war.

James Brown, now a resident and practicing attorney of the city of Mankato, Minnesota, was born in Milford Township, Butler County, Ohio, on the 14th of March, 1821. His parents emigrated from near Belfast, Ireland, to America in 1810, and on their arrival at Cincinnati his father purchased of Martin Baum a quarter section of land one mile south of the present village of Collinsville, and in June, 1810, the family settled in their new home, in the midst of an almost unbroken forest. The family, at that time, consisted of the father and mother and their three daughters. His mother's maiden name was Mary MecMechan. She had four brothers who came to America. One was the Rey. James McMechan, of Hamilton, Ohio, the father of Mrs. Jane H. Corwin and Mrs. Ellen A. Smith. Another was Col. David McMechan, and the others were John and William MeMechan.

The first duty of the settler in thé wilderness was to provide a rude log cabin for his family, and this was quickly done. In those days the pioneer settlements were few and far between. Robert Lytle, afterward one of the associate judges of the county, Matthew Richardson, who was one of the county commissioners in 1805-6; Jesse Simpson, and the Scott brothers, James, Robert, and John, were the nearest neighbors of the new settlers.

Amidst this frontier life the boy was reared. At the age of six years he was sent to the district school, then taught by an Irish teacher, William Hewett. The discipline of the school was severe, and the use of the rod of daily occurrence. The building in which the school was taught bore but a faint resemblance to the modern school-house. It was a log cabin about twenty feet square, covered with clapboards and weight-poles. Stoves were not in use, and the room was heated by a huge fire-place in the middle of the house. On three sides a log had been removed and glass substituted, and by this means the room was lighted and ventilated. The seats were of slabs from the nearest saw-mill; and the writing-desks were simply boards, placed along three sides of the building, resting on long pins set in the wall. The course of instruction was about as imperfect as the house. It consisted of spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic. Geography and grammar were not much thought of. The reading books were the New Testament and a few copies of the Introduction to the English Reader. At the end of each week the master assigned to each scholar a '' task" for the This consisted, in most cases, in memorizing a certain number of questions from the Shorter Catechism of the Presbyterian Church. And as the Presbyterian Church or meeting-house, as it was called, stood only a few rods from the school-house, the pupils from the school were, on the fast days which preceded the communion, marched in a body, under the leadership of the master, to the meeting-house to hear a long sermon from the minister. by subscription, and a dollar and a quarter per scholar, for a term of three months, was the customary rate.

In October, 1840, he obtained admission as a student in Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, graduating in the class of 1845. His college education, however, like that of so many other young men, was obtained only by the greatest self-denial on his part, owing to his poverty. On more than one occasion he was compelled to leave his place before the close of the college year, that he might be able to teach a term of school to raise the necessary means for the ensuing year. One such term he taught in the Summer of 1844 for fourteen dollars per month, boarding himself. Having, while still at the university, chosen the legal profession as the one he desired to follow, he devoted ali his spare time in the senior year to the study of Kent's Commentaries, Walker's Introduction, and other elementary text-books.

On leaving college he entered the law office of O. S. Witherby, of Hamilton. He remained as a law student in the office of Mr. Witherby about six months, supporting himself, meantime, by writing in the office of Captain James George, then recorder of deeds of Butler County, and lately an attorney-at-law of Rochester, Minnesota, whose death occurred very recently. On the 26th of March, 1846, he was admitted to practice before the circuit court of Union County, Indiana, his law license being signed by J. T. Elliott and Jeremiah Smith.

After visiting many places, recommended as suitable for a young lawyer, he finally selected Winchester, Indiana, as a location. On the 26th of May, 1846, he took leave of his early. home and youthful compan- His outfit of books was exceedingly meager, consisting of Blackstone, Chitty's Pleadings, and Swan's Treatise; these, with a Bible, the gift of a mother's love, and a copy of Rollin's Ancient History, made up his whole stock of books. With this library, thirty dollars in his pocket, and a single suit of clothes, the young lawyer settled in his new home. It is needless to recount the embarrassments that met the young attorney, for they were infinite. But his resolution was superior to all discouragements. Applying himself diligently to his profession, he soon began to attract friends and business. On the 14th of September, 1846, he married Miss Caroline Irwin, eldest daughter of the Rey. Robert Irwin, of Muncie, Indiana, a lady of accomplished manners and excellent education. She was a granddaughter of Mr. Robert Irwin, who moved from Woodford County, Kentucky, to Butler County in 1809, and settled in Hanover Township, on the farm afterward known as the Col. Robinson farm.

took their place in the struggle of life, resolved to sueceed. At the election in August, 1849, he was chosen to represent his county, Randolph, in the State Legislature. This was the more flattering from the fact that the county was politically opposed to him by several hundred majority. He served his constituents with credit and ability, and, as a member of the Judiciary and Corporation Committees, took an active part in the legislation of the State.

By close attention to the business of his profession he soon attained a leading position at the bar of his circuit, and in 1854 he was appointed by the governor of the State, Joseph A. Wright, judge of the Court of Common Pleas of his district. He held this office but a single term, and was succeeded by William A. Peelle, afterward secretary of state.

He took an active part in the educational interests of his county, and was for many years county examiner of schools, and secretary to the board of trustees of the county academy. In 1848 he was ordained a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church of Winchester, and was chosen by the presbytery of Muncie commissioner to the General Assembly that met at Columbus, Ohio, in May, 1862, that body.

In the dark days that preceded the civil war he took an active part in the Union meetings that were then being held in various parts of the State, as well as elsewhere, in the hope that something might still be done to avert impending war, and restore fraternal feeling between the North and South. But it was in vain! War was the result. When the conflict came, and conciliation was no longer possible, he took an active part in the support of the Union cause. Realizing the peril of the hour, he sought to use his influence as a leader in the Democratic party only to allay partisan feeling, and to rally all to the support of the Union. As evidence how effectually this was done is the fact that Company '' E," of the Eighty-fourth Regiment Infantry Volunteers, commanded by Captain M. B. Miller, which was raised chiefly by his exertions, was composed almost exclusively of Democrats, ninety-six of the company being of that political faith.

At the Democratic State Convention of 1864, he was chosen presidential elector for the Fifth Congressional District ; and about the same time he was nominated by the Democratic convention of his district candidate for Congress. His opponent was George W. Julian. The district was Republican by several thousand, and Mr. Julian was elected by about the usual majority. The campaign of that year was an exceedingly bitter one. To be the Democratic standard-bearer at such a time Was a position not to be coveted. At New Castle, Henry County, Indiana, where he had an appointment to speak, in connection with Garrett Davis, of Kentucky, the speakers were interrupted by an armed mob of angry men, the meeting broken up, and they followed to the depot by a howling crowd. Time and again he was threatened with mob violence and the destruction of his residence.

The health of his wife having suffered severely for some years past, he resolved to remove to the State of Minnesota, on account of its superior climate; and leaving a home, consecrated by the memories of eighteen years of active life, he, with his family, consisting of his wife and five children, M. Cornelia, Charles I., Marcella, Henry W., and Robert E., arrived in Mankato on the 19th of August, 1865. Since going to Minnesota he has confined himself closely to the practice of his profession. In January, 1866, he and the Hon. J. A. Wiswell, entered into partnership, and as such have continued in business up to the present time, with gréat success.

Hiram Darr was born in Darrtown, Ohio, on the 6th of October, 1806, and is the son of Conrad and Catherine Darr. They came to the county about 1802. He was married May 15, 1827, to Harriet Sithens, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Sithens, who was born July 4, 1807, in New Jersey. They have had twelve children. Abraham was born March 24, 1828; Hiram, April 7, 1829; Gardiner, May 7, 1830; Isaac Thomas, March 17, 1832; George Washington, March 3, 1834; Lucy Ann, October 16,-1835; Harriet Eliza Murphy, November 6, 1837; Matilda Durth, September 21, 1839; Emily Marshall, January 28, 1842; Louisa, May 6, 1844; Mary, January 17, 1842; John, March 27, 1852. George W. Darr joined the Union army August, 1861, served eighteen months, and was discharged, on account of disability. He applied for a pension, and his claim was allowed November, 1880. Mr. Hiram Darr is a farmer and willow cultivator.

Edward Hinsey was born August 1, 1830, on the farm on which he now lives. His father was Albert Hinsey, and his mother, Sarah Morris. They came to this county April 5, 1804. Mr. Hinsey was married May 21, 1857, to Julia Murray, born October 31, 1832, and has had three children. Clarabel was born June 5, 1862; Ida May, March 2, 1864; and Nancy Tenny, January 1, 1869. Mr. Hinsey has been supervisor for six years. He is a farmer, owning sixty-five acres of land that has had a crop of grain on for seventy-five years, no fertilizer ever having been applied. The crop of 1881 was beautiful and abundant. Mrs. Hinsey is the daughter of John and Sarah Antrim, who came to this county in 1814. ;

William Hancock, son of Elisha and Bertha Hancock, was born in Preble County, September 9, 1818. He came to this county in 1847, and was married in Rush County, Indiana, January 31, 1840, to Elizabeth Jones, daughter of William and Mary Jones. They have had five children. Elisha M. was born January 16, 1842; John, April 4, 1844; Isaac, August 20, 1848; William

Thomas, June 30, 1850; and Wiley Ellsworth, March 1, 1864. Elisha and John were in the war of the Rebellion. Elisha Hancock, the grandfather, came here in 1812, and was burnt out the first Winter. Mrs. Hancock was a seamstress and tailor. The present Mr. Hancock is a farmer. "st

Robert Harris settled in the county in 1810, having been born in Kentucky, November, 1809. His parents were Joseph and Sarah Jane Harris. Among the remembrances of his childhood is that of being lost. A great search was made, and his parents prepared to go after him, as it was supposed he was in the hands of the Indians. He was married December 11, 1833, to Julia McCaine, daughter of Robert and Jane McCaine, who came to this county in 1798. The former was a brave soldier in the War of 1812. His grandfather Lytle was in the Revolutionary War.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris have had seven children, of whom the oldest is dead. Mary Jane was born January 20, 1837; Joseph, November 28, 1838; Robert, November 22, 1840; William, June 28, 1843; Rebecca, February 6, 1845; Henry, April 22, 1848; and George W., February 22, 1854. Joseph and William Harris were engaged in the last war. William was in the Seventyfifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was reported missing one ~

Henry Herron is one of the oldest settlers in the township. He was born in South Carolina, November 17, 1801, and was brought to this county in the Fall of 1806 by his parents, Thomas and Nancy Herron. They came of long-lived families. Mr. Herron lived to see his eighty-sixth birthday, and Mrs. Herron her eighty-third. Her father was ninety-two, and her mother lacked only a few days of being ninety-nine. They were honest, upright people, and highly esteemed. Mr. Herron commanded a company of militia for a long time, taking it when a mere skeleton, and building it up until it was the best in the regiment.

When he had reached twenty-five he thought it was time for him to marry, and in June, 1826, he was united to Margaret Cramer, daughter of George and Barbara Cramer, who came to this county in 1816. They had eleven children, of whom six are living and five are dead. George Herron is the oldest; he was born May 26, 1827. Catherine Colter was born January 9, 1829 ; William Herron, January 11, 1831; Thomas Herron, January 2, 1833; Barbara Herron, August 25, 1825; Nancy Herron, December 10, 1837; Margaret Herron, December 11, 1839; Mary Jane Herron, March 1, 1842; Martha Ellen Emrick, Mareh 1, 1844; Sarah Jane, August 7, 1847; and Louis D. Winfield Scott Herron, Oc- - was made a prisoner, being aboard of the Indianola when it was captured. He was taken all over the South, and finally got in Libby Prison. He remained there about He commanded one of the guns on the Indianola. The morning after the surrender an offer was made for an exchange, but was not accepted. He was liberated after many months of terrible suffering. Henry Herron, it is needless to say, is a farmer, and a good one. He has never held office.

George W. Hood was born in Darke County, in this State, August 7, 1840, and is the son of Samuel and Catherine Hood. He was married October 1, 1861, to Catherine, daughter of William and Rebecca Cameral. He has seven children. Elmira was born May 17, 1864; Lucetta, February 14, 1870; Erminia, November 20, 1871; William E., April 18, 1873; Ralph AIlen, February 6, 1875; Susan P., October 10, 1877, and Harvey T., November 17, 1879. He is a farmer, and removed to this county in 1868.

John Irwin, son of Martin Irwin and Anna Irwin, was born in Butler County, September 11, 1812. His father came west in 1798, settling in the neighborhood of the Big Pond, in Fairfield Township, and two years after moving to Milford Township, which then had no highways. He settled two miles and a half north of Darrtown, afterwards cutting the road from Darrtown to his farm, being a part of the same road known as the Hamilton and Richmond Pike. His father cut the first tree ever cut by a white man on Section 17, Milford Township.

John Irwin was married December 28, 1838, to Caroline Homer, daughter of Nathan and Deleon Homer, who had emigrated to this county in 1808. His

1840; Cornelius, born February 25, 1842; Deleon, September 1, 1844; William, May 14, 1846; Harriet J., 1849; Frank P., February 6, 1852; and Caroline King, December 12, 1854. Deleon and Harriet J. are dead. Mr. Irwin lost his wife in 1854, and since has lived single. He has a fine farm, situated on the Fair Haven and Hamilton Pike. He has been trustee of Milford Township for twenty years. His grandfather, John Irwin, served in the Revolutionary War.

James Arthur Stephens was born in Hamilton, January 15, 1827. He was married in Somerville to Rhoda N. Norris, daughter of Benjamin Norris and Lena Laboyteaux. They have had four children. Edward Fitzzeller was born May 11, 1856; William Bynn, September 2, 1858; Benjamin Norris, January, 1863, and Samuel Sholmanson, July, 1865. Mr. Stephens is now a manufacturer and dealer in boots 'and shoes. He was out in the late war, acting as captain of the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Ohio National Guards. George W. Stephens was in the Eighty-third. Captain Stephens is the son of George Stephens and Catherine Barkalow,

Edward T. Stephens, son of Andrew A. Stephens and Catherine C. Norris, was born in Germany, of which country his parents were natives. They came to this country in 1867. He was married in Somerville on the 22d of September, 1877, to Anna Elizabeth Stephens, daughter of August Ritter and Catherine Colter. She was born in Middletown. They have had two children. Blanche Cornelia was born January 21, 1879, and Arthur Franklin, April 21, 1880. Mr. Stephens has been a highly successful farmer, and has served as supervisor for one year.

Source changes here: from Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, by Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and Others, published 1905; 1,398 words in this source stream.

Milford Township

At the same session of the same -commissioners, on a petition of the inhabitants of St. Clair township, it was "ordered, that the following tract of land and country, now part of St. Clair township, in the county aforesaid, to wit: Beginning at the southeast corner of the fifth township of the second range west of the Miami; thence north with the east boundary of the said second range to the north boundary of the county; thence west with the northern boundary line to the northwest corner of the county ; thence south with the western boundary line of the county to the southwest corner of the fifth township in the first range ; thence to the place of beginning, - shall compose a township which shall be called and known by the name of Milford township."

This township was organized December 2, 1805, and originally formed a part of St. Clair. It is one of the northern tier of townships and is bounded on the north by Preble county, on the east by the township of Wayne, on the south by Hanover and on the west by Oxford.

Some of the early settlers of the township were the Grimes, Glimes, Gard, Hancock, Hayne, Hinsey, Jones, Irwin, Kreamer, Kennedy, Lytle, Lippencott, Marshall, Markle, Ogle, McCleary, McMechan, Brown, McNeal, Broadberry, Pottenger, Pughe, Robinson, Reed, Richardson, Sutten, Stout, Rynearson, Simmons, Scott, Steel, Simpson, Taylor, Teegarden, Walters, White, Williams, Watters, Walden, Darr and Young.

southwest, while in the northeast a similar cut is made by the Seven Mile creek. The valleys along these streams are very productive. Darr's run drains a considerable portion of the western part of Milford township, and is the principal tributary of Four Mile creek.

From 1803 to 1806 the settlers suffered from the pinches of poverty. The most of them had to travel through the wilderness from twelve to fifteen miles to mill and this was a great inconvenience and hardship. The Indians at this time were very annoying to the settlers by their constant begging of "ochpon" (bread), "monako" (milk), and "quis-quish" (meat). Some of them often appeared in full war dress, painted, and with the scalping-knife by their side. Others wore the uniform of an officer whom they had previously killed and robbed. Two of them were known by the names of "Killbuck" and "Mishawa," the latter a Shawnee chief, who is believed to have been killed at the battle of the Thames by Colonel Johnson's men.

In the fall of 1804 a Baptist preacher by the name of Patterson, from South Carolina, a traveling minister, preached at the house of L. R. Cooch, the first sermon ever delivered in that part of the township. During the summer of 1806 a traveling Baptist preacher visited and preached in the western half of the township five or six times.

was the entering of the land upon which it is located by Matthew Richardson in 1802. The first lot sold was bought by Charles Collins, a wagonmaker by trade, from whom the town received its name. He continued to work at his trade here until 1839, when he sold out to W. H. Crume and removed to Preble county.

The first store keeper was Colonel A. P. Young. He was succeeded by James Steel. Eli Murphy and James Crozier opened a blacksmith shop in 1837. Johns Davis built the residence and store room later occupied by John Slonneker.

James Young conducted a saw mill as early as 1811. A few years later a grist mill was added. The mills were operated until about i860. The first school teacher in Collinsville was an Irishman by the name of William Hewett, who taught here from 1818 to 1838. The first school house was constructed of logs, with a fire place in the center of the room, while a brick chimney carried out the smoke through the rafters. In 1838 a frame building was constructed and in 1876 a two-story brick. Joel Harris taught here after the Civil war and also took an active part in local affairs.

The Collinsville Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1843 and was con" ducted with varying success until about 1870. The Presbyterian church was organized in 1810. The society is in a flourishing condition, and has a handsome frame church structure near the main part of the town. Collinsville is a station on the Cincinnati and Richmond division of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Centennial History Of

Darrtown was laid out in 1814 by Conrad Darr, an early settler who purchased the half of section 28 in 1802 for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Abram Darr was the first resident of the town and kept store for several years. He was succeeded as a merchant by John Deen and later by William Davis. Herron and Fenton were merchant tailors here in 1827. John Cook, a blacksmith, located here in 1825. Abram Darr opened a tavern in 1817* Aaron Chamberlain, Stephen Kendall and William Kirkpatrick kept tavern here during later years. Distilling was an important industry about 1850. Abram Darr opened a distillery in 1832. Mitchell Marshall conducted a fifteen-barrel establishment from 1845 *° 1852. James- Bradberry owned a log still house as early as 1817 which, in later years, was replaced by a stone building. The next year he built a saw and grist mill about a mile and a half below town, which he continued to operate for twenty-five years. In 1816 Wallace and Bryant erected a saw, grist and fulling mill on Four Mile. Later the mill property belonged to James Smiley. In 1850 a three-story stone building was erected. The mill, which has not been in operation for several years, now belongs to Smiley's son-in-law, W. L. Lane, of Oxford, and is commonly known as Lane's mill.

The first school was opened in 1806 in a log building located about a quarter of a mile northwest of town. This building continued in use about twenty years.

1826 or 1827 to be used as a place of worship by all religious denominations. The building has fallen into decay and is used only occasionally for public or political meetings.

The Baptists organized a church in 1806. The first regular preachers were Stephen Gard and Wm. Tyner. The society flourished for only a few years.

The Methodists built a log church at the foot of "Chaw Raw" hill about the same time. It was the forerunner of the Darrtown church, which soon became very prosperous.

The New School Presbyterians organized a church in 1848, which flourished for several years. Rev. B. W. Chidlaw organized the first Sabbath school in Darrtown in 1840.

The Lutheran church was organized at Jericho, four miles north of Darrtown. After the destruction of the church by fire a new church was built at Darrtown. The church is in a prosperous condition.

Somerville was laid out in 1831 by Jacob F. Rowe. The first merchants were John and Marsh Williams. They were succeeded by Benjamin Fox and Luther Taylor. Por packing was a prominent industry here about 1840. Wm. Morey, father of the late Hon. H. L. Morey, manufactured hats in the village as early as 1827. The Somerville mill was built in 1832. In recent years it has been conducted by the Muff Bros, first tavern keeper was Jacob Andrews.

Somerville was incorporated in 1832. Thomas Martin was the first mayor and Benjamin Hubbard the first cler . town now has a population of 426, and 1 quite a business center.

The Somerville Presbyterian church was organized in 1843. It is a scion of the Seven Mile church at Collinsville, organized in 1810. Services were held at Somerville under the control of the Seven Mile church in the early 'thirties. In 1834 a church edifice was erected, and in 1843 t^e congregation was organized into a distinct society. For several years Rev. Thomas Hughes filled the pulpit of the two churches as stated supply. After the death of Rev. Hughes, in 1864, Rev. James McClusky became pastor and remained eighteen years. In 1874

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized here about twenty-five years ago. It is a prosperous society, and possesses a comfortable church home.

A Free-will Baptist church was organized in 1835 or 1836. A church edifice was built for the use of the Baptist society, but with the understanding that all religious denominations should use it if desired.